'Cali Rush' to premiere at American Legion

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Sitting still at a desk for hours on end is not an easy task for the avid outdoorsman. That said, South Lake Tahoe filmmaker Mikey Wier is more than happy his latest project, "Cali Rush," a multi-sport adventure film, is through the editing process and headed to the screen.

"I don't have this looming weight on my shoulders," Wier said. "I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do with it, but I'm really happy with the way it came together and the people I got to work with."

"Cali Rush" will premiere at the American Legion on Saturday, Dec. 22. The film features numerous Lake Tahoe athletes as well as scenes from the area.

"I just wanted to do something that incorporates all aspects of the outdoor lifestyle," Wier said.

"But it's not just about us. It's about nature. I wanted to showcase California and how beautiful and pristine our natural world is and how it allows us to do all these things."

Shots of deep powder skiing and riding, big wave surfing, mountain biking, fly-fishing and wild whitewater kayaking are all included in the film.

But some of Wier's favorite clips came from some unexpected characters.

"One of the thing's I really wanted to show was California's abundance of wildlife," he said. "Nature is just a constant source of wonder and amazement for me."

Whether contributing footage or helping with the tedious editing work, Wier was assisted in the filmmaking process by Sean Davis, Canyon Florey, Kyle Schwartz and Brandon Rein among others.

"The final edit already exceeded my already high expectations," said Davis, who took turns with Wier in the editing bay.

"It's not too often an action-packed shred flick has such a conscious and powerful message."

The soundtrack is an eclectic mix of electronica and softer instrumentals from bands like Phutureprimitive, Vokab Company, Rubble Bucket and Beats Daily. Gathering the music for the film took months, with Wier often approaching the artists in person.

"That was a full-time job on its own," Wier said.

To finish the project, Wier's Burl Productions received a $10,000 grant from the online project funding site, www.Kick

starter.com" target="_blank">class="NormalParagraphStyle">starter.com. Nearly 100 people contributed to the film. Each contributor receives a copy of the DVD and other gifts, depending on the amount contributed.

Wier currently works for CalTrout, making short films about river conservation, and is a sponsored fly-fisherman. Without the task of editing "Cali Rush," he'll be spending plenty of time outside and mulling over the subject of his next film.

"It's nice to have that one in the bag," he said. "Who knows where it'll lead from here?"